Operation Chastise

Operation Chastise was a World War II mission carried out by the British Royal Air Force on May 16-17, 1943. Its goal was to destroy key German dams, particularly the Ruhr Valley dams, using specially designed "bouncing bombs." These bombs would skip across the water, evading defenses before sinking and detonating against the dam walls. The operation aimed to disrupt German industrial production and energy supply. Pilots from the famous 617 Squadron executed the mission, resulting in significant damage to the dams, particularly the Möhne and Edersee, showcasing innovative military engineering and strategic bombing tactics.